He went shirtless for his COVID vaccination. It has emerged that Volodymyr Zelenskyy was the voice of Paddington Bear when the popular film was released in Ukraine. I always react painfully to lies, he said. We are defending Ukraine. [124] On 3 June, Zelenskyy appointed former president Leonid Kuchma as Ukraine's representative in the Tripartite Contact Group for a settlement in the conflict. Opposition party leaders supported Zelenskyy's goal of reducing oligarchs' influence on politics in Ukraine but were critical of his approach, saying the public register would be both dangerous, as it concentrated power in the president; and ineffective, since oligarchs were merely a "symbol" of more deeply-rooted corruption. [242], On 25 September 2022, Zelenskyy said that Putins threats to use nuclear weapons "could be a reality." [93][94][95] He also proposed to spend the money that would have been used to finance the parade on veterans. [200], On 15 March 2022, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, together with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jana, visited Kyiv to meet with Zelenskyy in a display of support for Ukraine. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a124030ee7f6c9c Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Thank you, President Zelensky, tweeted British Paddington star Hugh Bonneville, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Its Jewish president lost family in the Holocaust", "Zelensky offers insight into family history, igniting debate over Ukrainian Holocaust memory", "3 years ago Zelenskyy was a TV comedian. [169] In part of the address, he spoke in Russian to the people of Russia, appealing to them to pressure their leadership to prevent war: Who will suffer the most from this? [268] In the interview he also said that if he were elected president he would not sign a law on amnesty for the militants of the DPR and LPR. [55], Zelenskyy's presidential campaign against Poroshenko was almost entirely virtual. The comedy series Svaty ("In-laws"), in which Zelenskyy appeared, was banned in Ukraine in 2017,[44] but unbanned in March 2019. [248], In a mid-June interview with BIHUS info[uk] a representative of the president of Ukraine at the Cabinet of Ministers, Andriy Herus stated that Zelenskyy had never promised to lower communal tariffs, but that a campaign video in which Zelenskyy stated that the price of natural gas in Ukraine could fall by 2030 per cent or maybe more was a not a direct promise but actually "half-hinting" and "joking". His slick, selfie videos are no longer about making Ukrainians laugh, but about urging them to lay down their lives for their country. [254] Zelenskyy's electoral programme claimed that Ukrainian NATO membership is "the choice of the Maidan and the course that is enshrined in the Constitution, in addition, it is an instrument for strengthening our defense capability". 4. [145], In August 2019, Zelenskyy promised to lift the moratorium on exhuming Polish mass graves in Ukraine after the previous Ukrainian government banned the Polish side from carrying out any exhumations of Polish victims of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army-perpetrated Volhynian massacres, following the removal of a memorial to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in Hruszowice, southeastern Poland. [128] The agreement failed to ease the conflict, as the separatists continued their attacks and Russia continued providing them with weapons and ammunition. Volodymyr Zelensky, a man thrust into the deadly centre of the biggest European war for almost 80 years, might currently be the most admired figure in the world, thanks in part to his ease with . [243] He also said that Putin is aware that the "world will never forgive" a Russian nuclear strike. About Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Former Acting Career, Including Voicing Paddington Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy won the country's Dancing with the Stars in 2006 and. [290] British newspaper Financial Times selected Zelenskyy as Person of the Year in 2022. Volodymyr Zelensky, who is now being praised across the world for the way he is leading Ukraine amid the war Russia, was known for prolific performances as an actor and comedian before becoming . Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is the voice of Paddington in the Ukrainian versions of 'Paddington' and 'Paddington 2' He made the comment after he was asked about an online petition calling to lift a prohibition on Ukrainian men leaving Ukraine. [124] The deal was met with heavy criticism and protests by both politicians and the Ukrainian public. The adviser answered without hesitation: Yes., Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flashes a peace sign during a workout in December 2021. [108] A number of the members of the Presidential Administration Zelenskyy appointed were former colleagues from his former production company, Kvartal 95,[106] including Ivan Bakanov, who became deputy head of the Ukrainian Secret Service. The area, known as the Pale of Settlement, was formed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries after the Russian government barred Jews from living elsewhere under its supervision. In a follow-up tweet, Bonneville shared an image of Paddington wearing a blue jacket and yellow hat, alluding to the Ukrainian flag, sitting opposite an imposing beara widespread symbol for Russia. [89][90] In June 2019 it was announced that the president's third major initiative, which seeks to remove immunity from lawmakers, diplomats and judges, would be submitted after the July 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election. By . He won the 2019 presidential election with a landslide 73 per cent of the vote, beating Petro Poroshenko. Zelenskyy's strategy during the Russian military buildup was to calm the Ukrainian populace and assure the international community that Ukraine was not seeking to retaliate. [11] After the start of the invasion, Zelenskyy declared martial law across Ukraine and a general mobilisation of the armed forces. As Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky seals his political legacy, his legend grows in the US and UK. As far as I can tell, around 40 per cent of tweets posted in Britain in the past couple of days have been about Zelensky; about his courage . A closer look at Mr Zelenskys background suggests it should come as no surprise that he is comfortable in the role of heroic leader. [183][186][187][188] BBC News and The Guardian have reported that his response to the invasion has received praise even from previous critics. [134], On 8 January 2020, the Presidential Office announced that Volodymyr Zelenskyy was cutting his trip to Oman short owing to the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 plane crash in nearby Iran the same day. But Renner is not Jewish, leading some to suggest that he would not be an appropriate choice. Presidency. The Russian Presidents pretext for war was that Ukraine is the victim of a genocidal regime and that his invasion would achieve the demilitarisation and de-Nazification of a neighbouring state. Blinken, sitting directly across the table from Zelenskyy, drew a stark contrast: the top U.S. diplomat, clean shaven, dressed in a dark blazer and a white button-down shirt . Here's how that would work", "8 EU countries support Ukraine's call to fast-track membership talks", "Exclusive: Ukraine's Zelensky says he doesn't feel China threat", "Ukraine election rivals trade taunts and media tricks", "Front-runner in Ukraine's election race names condition for returning Crimea", "Ukraine's New President Zelensky Hints At Peace With Russia", Zelensky about the war in the Donbas: Though we are ready to agree with the devil, Vladimir Zelensky: It is beneficial for us to dissolve the Rada, but we will think and act according to the law, "Ukraine poll leader Volodymyr Zelensky sees Putin as an enemy", "Zelensky: Border only "common" thing between Ukraine, Russia", "Ukraine insists Nord Stream 2 is 'dangerous' despite German reassurances", "Zelensky says Ukraine will fight until it regains all its territories after Kissinger remark", Comfortable topics for candidates: how they understand reforms, " , ", " Sevas.Com", Zelensky suggested, that he might not get to shake Poroshenko's hand, "Zelensky says Ukraine's government may allow civil partnerships for same-sex couples", "Zelensky floats civil unions amid gay marriage push in Ukraine", "Ukraine president backs civil partnerships for same-sex couples", "Zelensky Proposes Barring Orthodox Church That Answers to Moscow", "Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's shy first lady, steps up", "Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska on being Russia's target No 2: 'When you see their crimes, maybe they really are capable of anything', " : , ", " : 2018 6 ", "Slovakia Awards Zelenskiy Dubcek Prize For 'Freedom and Hope', " - ", "France's Macron awards Legion of Honour to Ukraine's Zelenskiy", " ", "Zeenski z najwyszym litewskim odznaczeniem. The conversation about casting his inevitable biopic has already started. He was essentially saying, Look, we are here dying for European ideals., 17. But not from 30 meters away, like with Macron and Scholz. He added that Putin "wants to scare the whole world" with nuclear blackmail. In January 2021, Zelenskyy said in an interview with Axios that he does not perceive China as a geopolitical threat and that he does not agree with the United States assertions that it represents one. How Zelensky prepares for the election", "Could a rock star become Ukraine's next president? A video of now President Volodymyr Zelensky voicing Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian version of the film has gone viral on social media. His grandmother, he has said, survived because she left Kryvyi Rih for Kazakhstan; almost all of the Jews who remained were murdered. New details reveal that Mr Zelensky gave voice to Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian-dubbed version of the children's film, according to NBC News. The series aired from 2015 to 2019 and was immensely popular. He used social media to deny rumors he had fled Ukraine and posted a video of himself in Kyiv last week where he said: "We are here. Zelensky addressed the Ukrainian people on Sunday morning after major cities in the country came under sustained attack from Russian forces. He has made numerous addresses to the legislatures of the EU,[204][205] UK,[206] Poland,[207] Australia,[208] Canada,[209] US,[210] Germany,[211] Israel,[212] Italy,[213] Japan,[214] the Netherlands,[215] Romania,[216] and the Nordic countries. His party gained 254 of the 424 seats. April 25, 202202:08. [76][77] Polish president Andrzej Duda was one of the first European leaders to congratulate Zelenskyy. 14. He promised to bring the salary for military personnel "to the level of NATO standards". The first appears when there are video cameras, the other Petro sends Medvedchuk privietiki (greetings) to Moscow". 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Zelensky provided the voice of the iconic bear in the Ukrainian version of the film. [124] Zelenskyy defended his negotiations, saying the elections would not be held before a Russian withdrawal. This is an evil that has come to our land and must be destroyed.. "[233], On 3 May 2022, Zelenskyy accused Turkey of having "double standards" by welcoming Russian tourists while attempting to act as an intermediary between Russia and Ukraine in order to end the war. The clip, posted onto Twitter by BBC economics editor Faisal Islam, showed scenes from the Ukrainian version of Paddington where Zelensky could be heard as the titular character. [73], Zelenskyy stated that as president he would develop the economy and attract investment to Ukraine through "a restart of the judicial system" and restoring confidence in the state. [19][34], At age 17, he joined his local team competing in the KVN comedy competition. During the 2019 election campaign, Mr Zelensky stood as a populist, anti-establishment figure and often used Instagram or YouTube rather than mainstream media platforms. Want to see Zelensky and his comedy partners say Lchaim? We scoured interviews in multiple languages, scrolled back through his social media posts and compiled some amazing YouTube clips to offer a more nuanced portrait. We are defending Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/bgHyrsbVFs. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Calum Russell. We will punish everyone who committed atrocities in this war We will find every scum who was shelling our cities, our people, who was shooting the missiles, who was giving orders. We were mistaken. But, did you know before. From 21 January until 18 April 2019 Zelenskyy did not give interviews. [34], In August 2014, Zelenskyy spoke out against the intention of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture to ban Russian artists from Ukraine. He has positioned himself as an anti-establishment and anti-corruption figure. In the 2018 interview with his entertainment industry friend, Zelensky characterized himself as someone who commits to a fight for the long haul a resonant idea as his country nears the end of its first week at war with Russia. whose showreel included providing the voice of Paddington Bear when the film was released in Ukrainian. Here are 18 things you should know about the man who has captured the worlds attention. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. ( JTA) The world has had a crash course on Volodymyr Zelensky in recent days, as the Ukrainian president has galvanized his country against an unprovoked attack by neighboring Russia. Their son, Kyrylo, was born in January 2013. "Zelensky" redirects here. 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